I don't think my kids have ever had a day without looking at a screen.

I mean, I haven't either in the past several years, but it's weird to think about.

So when I needed to give them afternoon distractions so I could continue working while they were at home, I first went with board games, coloring books, paints...all great stuff, but nothing was really holding their interest.

When my friend told me her daughter really likes Muzzy, the animated language-learning program, I promised myself I wouldn't park them in front of a screen for any longer than they had to be.

Still, she told me her daughter was starting to pick up new words - I did like the idea of bonus education time. Plus, my kids were still in the window of opportunity, meaning they were both under 10, and had enough brain plasticity to learn a language more efficiently than if they were older.

I looked into the program to see what they offered and was surprised by what I found. Muzzy was developed by the BBC to teach children a second language through stories.

There are videos to watch, sure, but there are also plenty of interactive games and puzzles that come with the monthly online membership.

If I could entertain my kids with games and shows and know they were learning, I could be happy with the screen time.

With the 30-day money-back guarantee, I figured I'd try it. I chose Spanish for them, because they have some friends who also speak it, but they also offer French, Italian, Chinese, Korean, German, and English as a second language.

I put on a cartoon for them, which instantly hit me with nostalgia for the commercials from when I was younger. Muzzy and his friends go on adventures and incorporate new words and phrases into their silly situations. My kids liked it!!

I know I wanted to reduce their screen time, but if the kids are preoccupied and learning, I'm happy.

5 More Reasons I Love Muzzy

You Can Buy The DVDs or The Online Membership For Under $5 A Month

The Cartoons Are Engaging Enough For The Whole Family

There's A 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Kids Could Learn Up To 1200 Words + Phrases

Learning A Second Language Can Lead To Higher Test Scores

Update: Muzzy's Limited Time Offer: Get 67% Off A Subscription + FREE Homeschooling Lessons When You Purchase Today!